Tennis ball server



May 10, 1960 J. P. VGARVER 2,935,980

TENNIS BALL SERVER Filed April 25, 195s IN VEN TOR. JOHN R GARVER A TTU/PNE Y nited States Patent TENNIS BALL SERVER John P. Garver, Poland, Ohio Application April 25, 1958, Serial No. 731,016

` s claims. (ci. 124-11) This invention relates to a tennis ball server and more particularly to a device that will serve a tennis ball and impart a desirable spin thereto and closely simulate the service of a tennis player. Y

The principal object of the invention isthe provision of a device that accumulates air under pressure and releases it in large volume instantaneously to eject a tennis ball from a barrel communicating with the device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tennis ball server incorporating a vpiston like closure controlling a passageway between an accumulator and a ball discharging barrel.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tennis ball server comprising an accumulator' and a discharge barrel and a differential valve mechanism controlling communica'tion between said accumulator and saidbarrel. i

The tennis ball Vserver disclosed herein comprises a device which will elfectively serve la tennis ball and which accomplishes such service by releasing a substantial volume of compressed -airV under relative lowpressure, the air releasing means comprising a differential valve and a trigger member for actuating the same so that instantaneous opening of said differential valve is insured.

The distance of the ilight of the ball served is controlled by the air pressure and the direction of the flight of the ball served is controlled bythe position of the device while the spin imparted the ballvis controlled by a strip of flexible material which is positioned in the barrel of said device.

With the foregoing and other objects in lview which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of pants and in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the tennis ball serving device.

Figure 2 is a, vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

By referring Ito the drawing and Figure 1 in particular it will be seen that the tennis ball server comprises a cylindrical body which has a head l11 secured thereto at one end, the head 11 being apertured centrally thereof and supporting a barrel 12 in axial alignment with said aperture.

Patented May 10, 1960 and a tubular extension 16 is secured thereto about said aperture. Said tubular member 16 is provided with an end closure 17.

A piston 18 is mounted on one end of a piston rod 19 and in spaced relation to a secondary piston 28 also positioned on said. piston rod 19. The secondary piston Z0 is positioned within the tubular member 16 for reciprocal movement therein.

The piston 18 is supported in axial alignment with the aperture in the head 11 by means of a plurality of guide rods 21-21 which are secured at their ends at the head 11 and extend inwardly therefrom in spaced parallel relation to one another.

The piston rod 19 extends outwardly beyond the closure 17 through which it is slidably positioned and terminates with its enlarged outward end 22 in spaced relation to @the closure 17.

A trigger member 23 is slidably engaged on `said piston rod '19 between said closure 17 and said end 22 so that it may be moved forcibly against said end 22 and thereby Vimpart movement to the piston rod 19, the piston 18 vand the secondary piston 20. Such'movement as is imi portedV to the piston rod 19 is rapid-and results in the rapid movement of the piston 18 away from the annular ridge 13. The compressed air accumulated in the cylindrical body 10 is therefore capable of flowing instantaneously in large volume into the barrel 12. The rapid movement of the piston 18 is insured by the secondary piston 20 which is only slightly smaller in area than the piston 18 so that only a relatively small amount of air pressure need be overcome by the trigger action as will be understood by those skilled in the art'and familiar with the principles of differential air pressures and the resulti ing characteristics thereof.

'I'he face of the piston 18 is provided with a sealing gasket 24 and a sealing gasket 25 is positioned between the cylindrical body 10 and the secondary head ll. Compressed air is introduced into the cylindrical body 10 through an inlet orifice 26 from a suitable source, `not shown.

The barrel 12 as an annular band of fabric material, preferably pile fabric material 27, thereabout forming a partial liner adjacent the inner end of the barrel 12 so v that balls of various sizes may be accommodated and An inwardly projecting relatively sharp annular ridge l effectively served by the device.

A strip of fabric 2S is positionedin the barrel 12 longitudinally thereof and secured thereto adjacent the annular band of fabric 27. When the ball indicated by the letter B in Figures l and 3 is served, the presence of the cloth strip 28 imparts desirable spin to the ball.

The device is provided with a supporting stand 29 preferably incorporating an adjustable universal joint 36 and a base 31.

llt will thus be seen that a tennis ball serving device has been disclosed which meets the several objects kof the invention and having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A tennis ball serving device comprising an accumulator, a barrel in communication with said accumulator, a piston valve between said accumulator and said barrel, a cylinder in communication with said accumulator, a

3 '4 piston rod extending from said piston value through in the area of said secondary piston is less than the area said cylinder and exteriorly thereof, a secondary piston of said piston valve. on said piston rod and positioned in said cylinder, a trigger member slidably engaged on said piston rod exteriorly References Cited in the le of this patent of said cylinder arranged to engage the outermost end of 5 said piston rod to move the same and said piston valve UNITED STATES PATENTS and secondary piston thereon and a source of air pressure 884,024 Lake Apr. 7, 1908 in communication with said accumulator. 2,006,030 Price June 25, 1935 2. The tennis ball server set forth in ,claimV 14and 2,126,628 Fiondella Aug. 9, 1938 wherein guide rods positioned in said accumulator posi- 10 2,182,369 Barron Dec. 5, 1939 tion and guide said piston valve. 2,525,082 Sherman Oct. 10, 1950 3. The tennis ball server set forth in claim 1 and where- 2,587,687 Beyers Mar. 4, 1952 

